NESTLED on the northern tip of Boracay Island in Punta Bunga Cove is the five-star Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay, which is set on creating memorable experiences for guests and the rest of the community.

The new resort offers another perspective to one of the world’s most delightful island destinations, said Albert Ocasio, Mövenpick general manager.

Aside from having Boracay’s largest swimming pool and the longest single stretch of private beachfront, guests can expect premium service.

The resort has 312 contemporary rooms and suites, and is part of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

“We are able to deliver services based on international standards that have grown and developed in the company’s 40 years of existence,” Ocasio said.

He added that Filipinos are naturally generous and caring, and with Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay, they “are able to provide more opportunities for guests all over the world to make wonderful and lasting memories in this amazing location.”

Ocasio said the resort values human relationships, particularly inclusion, respect and tolerance for each other.

“It is also about respect for the communities and the environments that surround us. It is this level of service that we seek to maintain everyday – not just for our guests but toward each other,” he stressed.

The resort features a 3,300-square meter multi-level pool area, serene wellness centre and spa, and water sports activities. Weddings, meetings and special events can be hosted in its dedicated venues. It also has seven diverse restaurants and bars: The Market, The Café, Brezza, Ssäm, Fun Pub, Pool Bar and Sol Marina Beach Club.

The Market, an all-day dining restaurant, serves breakfast buffet, a la carte for lunch and dinner specials including themed buffets in the evening. The Café is an idyllic venue to lounge and savor varieties of coffees and teas, freshly baked breads, pastries, muesli, sandwiches, quiches, salads and some Filipino merienda favorites.

Brezza, an Italian restaurant, makes authentic pizzas prepared in a wood-fired oven called ‘The Beast’ from Napoli which cooks pizza in under 90 seconds. It also offers a selection of aperitif wines and spirits. Ssäm is a casual eatery serving healthy Korean food and flavorful interpretations of Japanese cuisine.

Sol Marina Beach Club is the ultimate destination to enjoy the island’s popular nightlife featuring international disc jockeys, live music and dance shows. Its beverage selections and extensive food offerings are based on the concept of 40° North and covers the best casual beach dining from America’s southern states, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Asia.

There is also the Sagay Spa, named after the native Visayan seashells that are crushed and firmed by the sea, transforming them into powdery white sand. Exuding a therapeutic ambiance, it offers massages such as Hilot Ritual, Sagay Rejuvenating Ritual, Swedish, Shiatsu and Deep Tissue.

The hotel team can guide guests who seek to create their itinerary on the fly. “We have prepared recommendations for our guests as to the must-try destinations within Boracay,” Ocasio said.The new upscale resort is 30 minutes away from Caticlan Airport, a 10-minute drive from Boracay’s downtown, one kilometer from Mount Luho View Point, two kilometers from Fairways and Blue Water Golf Course, three kilometers from Crystal Cove, five kilometers from D’Mall and 45minutes to Ariel’s Point Cliff Jumping Paradise.

The hotel offers a complimentary scheduled shuttle service to D’Mall for in-house guests.

A day pass allows guests to use the resort facilities for P2,000, inclusive of P1,600 that they can use in any of the restaurants or bars.

Since Switzerland is known for chocolates, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay has a signature Chocolate Hour from 5 to 6 p.m. where guests can indulge on a sweet treat with its on-the-house chocolate creations.

Aside from experiencing the island’s vibrant nightlife, guests can visit Boracay’s highest point, Mt. Luho, to get a bird’s eye view of this amazing destination. “Should our guests be a little more adventurous, we offer activities such as parasailing, island hopping, stand-up paddle boarding or even trying for an introductory dive,” Ocasio said.

Being part of a global hospitality management company, the resort attracts a fair mix of international and local guests, Ocasio said. Its facilities are suited for guests who visit Boracay for leisure such as family trips, honeymoon and group tours as well as for business particularly for small meetings and incentive trips.

Since opening its doors to the public in December, the resort has welcomed guests from Europe, Greater Asia and the Americas, Ocasio said. The Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board said Boracay remains a top destination for countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

“We hope our guests remember their stay with us as something that they will treasure until they return,” Ocasio said.

Gerard Hotelier, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts vice president for operations for Asia, said it is in Asia where the company is now seeing growth.

“This year alone after Boracay, we will be opening three hotels in Thailand, one in Maldives, one in Kuala Lumpur by the airport, three hotels and resorts in Vietnam, one in Bangladesh and we are currently looking at extending our Asian portfolio in Japan and Australia,” Hotelier said.

“The Philippines is a very important destination for us and a high priority area for growth and development,” he added. The company has opened a resort in Cebu before launching its Boracay property.

A few months ago, the company announced signing the management of its first Mövenpick hotel in Quezon City, and other projects are being eyed in Davao and Palawan just to name a few, Hotelier said.

“Our growth strategy is always carefully planned and in a very sustainable way. We wish to enter a long and rewarding relationship with hotel developers; relationships that are based on trust, mutual respect, and very importantly, on the sharing of common vision – these are the values that we live by,” he added.

The traditional Swiss values – quality, reliability and care with a personal touch –can be experienced in all its hotels so the company’s six million guests annually feel well cared for.

“Punta Bunga Cove, which not everybody may know, is among the first locations in Boracay Island developed to welcome travellers from all over the world. We are proud to put our heritage and character in the spotlight once again,” said Alfredo Yao, chairman of Summit Hotels & Resorts Specialist Inc.

“It is with optimism and confidence that with our partners at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, we are able to showcase what makes this island, province and country standing in this lovely resort,” Yao added.

Column of the Day

‘The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) (15 U.S.C. § 78dd-1, et seq.) is a United States federal law known primarily for its main provision: Against bribery of foreign countries’ food management officials.’

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